Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Public Policy (CPP) was proud to support the inauguration of the Global Institute for Strategic Research (GISR),  a multidisciplinary think tank concerned with the global challenges of governance, advancement - defined as progress, prosperity, and development - and peace. 

The CPP’s contributions to a launch ceremony included Dr. Logan Cochrane, Associate Professor, serving as rapporteur for the roundtable ‘Beyond Shaking Hands - Implementing Agreements and Sustaining Peace in Fragile States.’ Dr Leslie A. Pal, Founding Dean, CPP, also moderated the roundtable ‘The Future of Energy: Accelerating Energy Transition Challenges,’ which featured guest speakers from Chatham House, Italian Institute for International Political Studies, and Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.

Marking the launch, Dr. Pal noted: “GISR is a major contribution to global discussions of governance, advancement, and peace, and CPP was honored to support and celebrate its launch. As a College we look forward to further supporting its work, along with our fellow HBKU colleges, QF entities and partners.”

“I am extremely grateful for the support provided by the CPP in the buildup and during the launch of GISR,” added Dr. Sultan Barakat, Acting Director, GISR. “I would particularly like to thank Dr. Esmat Zaidan, Associate Professor, CPP, and Dr Logan Cochrane for peer reviewing GISR’s research papers, not to mention Dr. Pal for moderating the roundtable discussion on the future of energy.”

“GISR aims to create a conducive environment where public policy debate can occur among scholars and policy makers in a holistic fashion to ensure coherence and strengthen collaboration at the national, regional and international levels,” Dr. Barakat further elaborated. “I am looking forward to working with colleagues at the CPP, HBKU, and further afield to make this happen.”